Friendship and Courage in The Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneyPeter Jackson’s film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey brings J.R.R. Tolkien’s familiar world to life with sweeping landscapes, intricate creature design, and a narrative that balances whimsy with peril. At its emotional core, however, the film is guided by two tightly woven themes: friendship and courage. These themes drive character choices, define relationships, and shape the film’s moral landscape. This article examines how friendship and courage are presented, how they interact, and why they remain central to the story’s appeal.
Friendship: bond that sustains the quest
Friendship in An Unexpected Journey appears in multiple forms: the long-standing domestic ties that define Bilbo Baggins’s life at Bag End; the new alliances formed between a hobbit and a company of dwarves; and the rekindled loyalties among those who oppose darkness (such as Gandalf’s networks and the occasional human allies). The film frames friendship as both comfort and obligation.
- Bilbo’s departure from the Shire is catalyzed by his growing curiosity and by Gandalf’s faith in him. Gandalf’s invitation is an act of friendship that offers Bilbo a different life possibility, suggesting friends can see potential the characters cannot see in themselves.
- The company of dwarves—led by Thorin Oakenshield—initially treat Bilbo with suspicion and condescension. Over time, shared danger and moments of small kindness soften their attitudes; Bilbo proves his worth not by blood or lineage but by loyalty and quick thinking.
- Fellowship extends beyond the company. Gandalf’s interventions and the supportive, if skeptical, figures in Bree and Rivendell underscore that friendship in Middle-earth often spans races and regions.
Friendship in the film is pragmatic as well as emotional: it’s a resource. Allies share knowledge, shelter, food, and, crucially, courage. When characters act together they accomplish things none could do alone—rescuing one another from trolls, surviving goblin tunnels, or navigating the dangers near Mirkwood. These scenes illustrate the film’s moral: courage is amplified and sustained by fellowship.
Courage: growth, definition, and tests
Courage in An Unexpected Journey is not simply heroic swagger. The film presents a spectrum of bravery: from quiet, internal resolve to bold, violent action. It is often measured by the willingness to act despite fear rather than the absence of fear itself.
- Bilbo’s arc is the clearest depiction of courage as growth. He begins as a timid, comfort-loving hobbit; his early acts—slipping away at night, picking pockets in the goblin tunnels, bargaining with Gollum—are small but significant departures from his former life. These moments reveal courage rooted in curiosity and empathy rather than aggression.
- Thorin’s courage, in contrast, is tied to honor and blood memory. His bravery manifests as stubborn leadership and a readiness to risk his life for reclaiming his homeland. That same pride occasionally blinds him—revealing courage’s potential double edge when untethered from humility or compassion.
- Gandalf’s courage is strategic and sacrificial: he understands the larger stakes and acts to protect the group and the wider world. His willingness to face great danger to save others models a benevolent, long-view courage.
The film also uses external trials to test courage: battles with trolls and goblins require physical bravery; navigating riddles and moral choices require inner strength. Courage is rewarded, but not always in simple ways. Bilbo’s courage changes his identity and alters his relationships; it expands his world and complicates his ties to home.
How friendship and courage reinforce each other
The interplay between friendship and courage is central to the film’s narrative logic. Friendship motivates acts of courage; courage, when expressed in defense of friends, deepens bonds.
- Mutual dependence: When the company splits or faces peril, members often risk themselves for one another. This mutual risk cements unity and fosters personal growth—Bilbo, for instance, steps up repeatedly to help the dwarves.
- Moral ballast: Friendship provides an ethical framework for courage. Characters who have friends to protect or who owe loyalty make choices based on communal values rather than personal glory. Thorin’s best moments are those where his courage is guided by care for his people; his darker moments arise when pride overrides that care.
- Emotional stakes: Friendship increases the narrative stakes. When companions are endangered, courage acquires weight and urgency, making acts of bravery feel meaningful rather than performative.
Key scenes that highlight the themes
- The unexpected party and Bilbo’s first departure: Friendship and Gandalf’s faith in Bilbo catalyze the journey.
- The troll scene: Early tests push Bilbo and the dwarves into a cooperative effort—friendship begins to matter practically.
- The Rivendell council: Alliances across cultures emphasize friendship’s scope beyond immediate companions.
- The goblin tunnels and Bilbo’s encounter with Gollum: Bilbo’s solitary courage shapes his identity and proves invaluable to the group.
- Gandalf’s confrontations and disappearances: Show friendship that operates on a larger scale—protecting the many, not only the few.
Themes in performance, visuals, and music
Performance and filmmaking choices accentuate friendship and courage. Martin Freeman’s understated portrayal of Bilbo makes his small acts of bravery feel intimate and believable. The dwarves’ shifting expressions—from derision to respect—map the changing relationships. Visually, tight frames during moments of camaraderie contrast with wide, lonely shots when characters face trials alone. Howard Shore’s score underlines emotional beats: motifs tied to the company swell during moments of unity and soften during introspective courage.
Why these themes endure
Friendship and courage resonate because they are both universal and adaptable. Everyone understands the comfort of a trusted friend and the challenge of facing fear. The Hobbit reframes these ideas within an adventure, making them elemental to the story’s moral universe: true courage is often ordinary and relational; true friendship transforms individuals and enables heroic acts.
Conclusion
In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, friendship and courage are not mere motifs but engines of narrative and character. Friendship supplies purpose and support; courage provides action and growth. Together they make Bilbo’s transformation believable and meaningful—the small hobbit who, through loyal bonds and steady bravery, steps into a larger world.
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